Maria was born to Alfonso and Maria E. Montano on Jan. 13, 1946, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
She is survived by daughters Laura Murphy-Lenzini and wife Steph Murphy-Lenzini, Diana Murphy, and Debra M. Crump; grandchildren Katelyn C. Shaw and husband Avery Shaw, Emma Coles, and Kyle R. Crump; great-grandsons Cooper Ross and Miles Dean Shaw – the latter of whom will arrive in September; siblings Alfonso Montano, Esperanza Dean, Estella Vincent, Concepcion (Concha) Rios, and Mario Montano; and a host of nieces and nephews, including the Frisks of Haughton: Juliet, Sophia, Isabella, Tristan and Bill.
Maria was preceded in death by her husband US Air Force MSgt. Dale Murphy (retired), whom she married on May 18, 1963; her oldest sister; son-in-law Brett C. Crump; and nephews Raymond and Michael Vincent and Armando Montano.
Maria’s family and friends remember her for her fierce devotion to family and friends, dynamic personality, love of gardening and most especially, her cooking – she happily spent hours at a time making large batches of tamales and could whip up pitchers full of margaritas made with freshly squeezed lime at a moment’s notice. She delighted in creating cartons of cascarones – colorful, confetti-filled eggshells- for her children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchild to crack over each other’s heads on Easter.
Maria’s family will celebrate her life at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton. Bryan Reed of The Simple Church will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, prior to service.
In lieu of flowers, her daughters suggest donations in Maria’s name to the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana at www.hsnwla.com or Hospice de Valle at www.hospicedelvalle.org/donate
